Plot Synopsis

Executive produced and written by David Simon & George Pelecanos -- based on on the book of the same name by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton -- WE OWN THIS CITY is is a six-hour limited series that chronicles the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force. The series highlights the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work. Characters include:

Sgt. Wayne Jenkins of the Baltimore Police Department, who is perhaps the central figure in the sprawling federal corruption case that centered on the agency's Gun Trace Task Force, a plainclothes unit that went completely rogue and began hunting and robbing citizens and drug dealers alike as decades of a relentless drug war and mass incarceration in Baltimore spun wildly out of control.

Daniel Hersl is a cocky, swaggering cop known amongst Baltimore residents for his casual brutality and was the subject of multiple citizen complaints. Hersl was effectively banned from the Eastern District before his move to the GTTF.

Sean M. Suiter is a Baltimore City Homicide detective who was caught up in the GTTF case and called to testify before a federal grand jury. Tragically, Suiter finds he can't outrun his past.

James Otis is a Baltimore resident and HVAC repairman, who was scraping by to support a large family until he was robbed and locked up by GTTF Detective Daniel Hersl.

Gordon Hawk is a recent addition to the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, who was working alongside Cpl. David McDougall on the early drug overdose casework that set the GTTF probe in motion.

Jaquan Dixon is a young BPD patrolman who is still trying to do the job well, even as the police department standards begin to fail.

Tariq Toure is a West Baltimore author and community activist, who helps Nicole Steele better understand the issues facing Baltimoreans under BPD policies as she works to finalize the Consent Decree.

Brian Hairston is a Baltimore cop who isn't afraid to speak up when he sees police misconduct or unsound strategies.

WE OWN THIS CITY premieres Monday, April 25, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO. New episodes debut Mondays at 9pm through May 30:

"Part One" (Monday, April 25, 2022 at 9pm): Momodu Gondo finds himself in an interrogation. A detective in a nearby county traces a string of overdoses to Baltimore. Written by George Pelecanos & David Simon; Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

"Part Two" (Monday, May 2, 2022 at 9pm): Jenkins learns stark truths about policing as a new officer. Rayam opens up about the GTTF. Suiter is assigned to a new murder case. Written by Ed Burns & William F. Zorzi; Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

"Part Three" (Monday, May 9, 2022 at 9pm): Despite numerous complaints, Hersl is placed on the GTTF. Jensen monitors Gondo's calls. Jenkins brings Suiter along on a raid. Written by D Watkins; Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green.

"Part Four" (Monday, May 16, 2022 at 9pm): Maurice Ward recounts how Jenkins remained unscathed despite a series of illegal incidents; Baltimore is rocked by the Freddie Gray protests.

"Part Five" (Monday, May 23, 2022 at 9pm): Jensen, Sieracki, and U.S. Attorney Leo Wise prepare to charge the officers of the GTTF. Suiter feels the distrust of Baltimoreans as he works a homicide scene and begins to sense that his past is closing in on him. Steele and Davis seek support from Baltimore's new mayor on the consent decree before the new administration takes over the DOJ.

"Part Six" (Monday, May 30, 2022 at 9pm): After the arrest of several GTTF officers, Suiter grows concerned about his grand jury subpoena. Jenkins learns his fellow officers are cooperating with the investigation as the full extent of his crimes comes to light. Davis and the mayor's office go head-to-head on funding for the consent decree, while Steele questions whether the U.S. justice system can ever be changed.